The issue of sustainability is becoming increasingly important, particularly in the construction industry. Environmentally friendly buildings should have a low environmental footprint right from the construction phase. This means that customers’ demand for information regarding environmental product declarations (EPDs) will continue to rise, and a lack of knowledge in this area could lead to a loss of business.
In order to take these developments into account and harmonize the results, various international standards for the environmental labeling of products have been developed. The relevant standards currently include Type I, Type II, and Type III environmental labeling in accordance with the ISO 14020 ff. series of standards.
Quantifiable information based on a life cycle assessment (LCA) and verified by an independent party.
Type III environmental labeling (Environmental Product Declaration – EPD) defines the most detailed and demanding requirements for the creator. Type III labeling is now widely used and recognized, particularly in the construction industry.
The EPD informs customers/readers about various environmental impacts associated with the product life cycle. These include, among other things, the currently focused emissions of greenhouse gases and the scarcity of water and land.
Type III environmental product declarations in the construction sector are regulated by DIN EN ISO 14025 and DIN EN 15804. ISO 14025 regulates general requirements for EPDs based on the principles of life cycle assessment (LCA). DIN EN 15804 specifies these requirements in more detail, particularly in the area of system boundaries and exclusions.
Laws, regulations, and standards are constantly changing—we keep track of them all. Whether it’s energy, the environment, quality, or occupational safety, we support you in setting up and maintaining your legal register. This ensures that your company remains legally compliant and audit-proof at all times.
1. In the first step, we conduct a scoping workshop (approx. 5 hours) with you. During this workshop, we provide you with basic input on the requirements for Type III environmental product declarations (EPDs according to ISO 14025). We then clarify the system boundaries of the EPD and the functional unit (e.g., 1 ton of reinforcing steel) of the product, as well as the data requirements and quality standards. In addition, we create a simple product life cycle during an initial tour of your facility.
2. The second step involves a detailed process analysis. To do this, we first record all product-related material and energy flows throughout its life cycle. We provide you with structured templates for this and are available to answer any questions you may have. We then model the product life cycle, including all inputs and outputs, using LCA software. The software then performs a corresponding impact assessment for various impact categories (e.g., greenhouse effect, eutrophication potential, water scarcity potential) and evaluates them. These results form the basis for the EPD.
3. The third step is verification by an independent auditor. We coordinate communication and consultation with the external auditor. After a successful audit, the EPD certificate is issued to the product manufacturer and you can openly advertise with it.
Internally, the EPD presents all environmental impacts, including upstream and downstream processes, caused by a product. By visualizing various material and energy flows, targeted measures to improve environmental performance can be derived.
Externally, an EPD serves to inform interested parties. EPDs are often requested when awarding contracts and can therefore represent a competitive advantage. Transparent external information also demonstrates the company’s commitment to the environment.
